Media&Marketing/ Michael Cullen: With just six weeks to go to Christmas, adland finds itself in pitch mood with agencies targeting several lucrative accounts.
Top of the shopping list is the hotly-contested review for the €8 million National Lottery. Cawley Nea\TBWA, DDFH&B-JWT, Irish International BBDO, McCann Erickson, QMP Publicis, Ogilvy & Mather (O&M) and the incumbent, McConnells, will submit creative documents for the Lottery by next Monday. Separate presentations are also due from the media divisions of these respective agencies.
The Automobile Association (AA) is also in the throes of a review, with three agencies - McConnells, O&M and the incumbent, Young Euro RSCG - vying for the business. A decision is expected before the end of the month.
Another of Young's clients, Axa, is also out to pitch, with DDFH&B-JWT and O&M among those in contention. Independent energy supplier Energia is on the look-out for an agency to handle a campaign due to run early next year, as is the Health Service Executive (HSE), which is said to have a €3 million media budget.
The HSE was set up this year by the Minister for Health, Mary Harney, to take over the day-to-day running of the health service from the health boards. The National Consumer Agency and the Financial Regulator have also begun to interview agencies.
A number of reviews have already been decided. Eircom awarded O&M a new brand project and Irish International BBDO has been appointed as Glanbia's creative agency in place of QMP Publicis.
The move reunites Glanbia with Eoghan Nolan and Jessica Kiang, the duo having worked on the dairy portfolio during its time at McCann's.
IIBBDO and Chemistry have won new business from drinks distributor Edward Dillon with the former awarded Hennessy cognac, previously with QMP Publicis, and Wolf Blass wines. Chemistry has added Vina Carmen and Nederburg wines. Both agencies have drinks experience, IIBBDO with Guinness and Budweiser for Diageo and Chemistry for Heineken's Coors Light. OMD will handle Dillon's media.
QMP Publicis has won a three-year €2.3 million contract for Dublin City Council campaigns for the Dublin Port Tunnel, waste management, and housing and roads. McCann's has been awarded the €1.5 million CSO contract for next year's census. Tequila\Ireland has added new projects for AIB, O2, Calyx and the National Action Plan Against Racism.
Salaries rise
More demand for marketers among consumer goods firms pushed salaries up by five per cent in 12 months and higher salaries in marketing were matched by strong benefit packages, a report released by the People Group recruitment agency has shown.
The average marketing director or head of marketing could now expect an annual package worth €98,000 a year, with the maximum being €145,000 and minimum €75,000, David Allan, managing director of People Group, has said.
The three "degrees" for a marketing manager's salary were €73,000, €95,000 and €55,000. A PR manager could expect to earn anything from €45,000 to €85,000, with the average being €62,000. The average product group manager would earn €58,000.
An Post search
An Post plans to appoint a PR agency for services of a campaign nature to support sales, marketing and corporate activity around brand development as the market opens up, company spokesman Barney Whelan has confirmed.
Although Whelan refused to name the agencies pitching, it is known that Wilson Hartnell Public Relations (WHPR) and Gibney Communications are on the list.
Whelan worked with WHPR boss Roddy Guiney while with the Food Safety Authority and the ESB. WHPR has links with An Post, as it has handled the National Lottery PR since its launch. Elsewhere, Charley Stoney has taken charge at McConnells PR, following Carol Flynn's departure. Stoney will also continue to manage McConnells Direct. Edelman's health unit has added Chiron flu vaccines and treatments for cystic fibrosis.
TV on demand
Worried by the growth in internet piracy and steering away from generating revenue by creating handsome primetime audiences, NBC and CBS have become the latest US networks to offer downloads of TV shows like Law & Order, CSI and Survivor.
Consumers can pay 99 cents for a show to watch at a time they choose on their own TVs. The move follows last month's announcement by ABC that it was making Desperate Housewives and Lost downloadable to iPods without ads for €1.99 a show.
Photo call
A free magazine playing to the vanity of twenty-somethings launches this week. Bash urges club owners to buy double-page spreads in return for the inclusion of patrons' photos. The 48-page glossy is co-owned by Ireland rugby international Shane Horgan.
Acts of wizardry
Harry Potter returns to Irish cinema screens next week with the fourth instalment in the series. As part of the campaign for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Warner Bros and Viacom Outdoor have taken over the south platform at Dún Laoghaire Dart station with a giant 288-sheet poster.
Michael Cullen is editor of Marketing magazine
